Various Tissue Lesions

When people come in for there regular exams, there are many things dentists will be looking for. There are many different types of sores and lesions that can occur in and around the mouth. Many we just take note of and watch, and others that require treatment. Here is just a sampling of some of the things that have come through Schau Dental.

Case #1 - Bone Fragment Stimulated Ulcer

This patient came in with a painful ulcer on the bottom left of his mouth. At first it appeared to be a standard ulcer which could be caused by a virus, trauma, etc. After following the standard treatment and having no resolution, a sharp edge started to appear with the ulcer. Upon close examination, a small bone fragment was noted. With removal of the fragment the area healed quickly. So the lesson from this case is, if you have a sore that does not heal within a normal time frame (3-14 days), please have it checked by your dentist.

Case #2 - Hyperkeratosis

A common style of lesion noticed by dentists is a thickened white patch. This can be on the cheeks (common for cheek biters), and/or on the gum tissue. This may be generalized or very localized. For this patient the lesion started off in a very localized area, but over time it has spread to cover most of the gum tissue. Fortunately at this stage the condition is non-cancerous and close monitoring is all that is required. However, this is definitely the type of thing you do not want to let go un-checked and un-watched.